Chapter 9 - The Final Scalpel"You little bitch!" Arthur roared, spinning the barrel of his revolver toward Evelyn.
Bang!
The gunshot deafened the cavernous hall.
At the exact same microsecond, Dominic fired.
The bullets crossed paths in mid-air. Dominic’s round took Arthur squarely in the right shoulder, spinning him around and shattering his collarbone. Arthur’s gun flew from his hand, clattering across the stone floor.
Arthur screamed, clutching his bloody shoulder and sinking to his knees.
Evelyn stood untouched, a single strand of hair blown across her cheek by the muzzle blast.
Dominic didn't hesitate. He rushed forward, scooping little Noah out of the chair, cradling the infant safely against his chest. The baby stirred, blinked sleepily, and let out a soft yawn, completely unaware of the war that had just been fought over his cradle.
Dominic checked the boy over frantically. Unharmed. Safe.
He looked up, walking slowly toward Arthur Hart, who was groaning in pain against the base of the telescope mount.
"You're finished, Arthur," Dominic said, his voice dripping with lethal venom. "Your syndicate is dismantled. Your assets are frozen. And every court in the country is going to receive the unedited financial ledgers Evelyn recovered tonight."
Arthur spat a mouthful of blood onto the floor, glaring up at them with pure hatred. "You think... you think you've won? The syndicate isn't just me, Vale. There are others..."
"Let them come," Evelyn said, stepping up beside Dominic and placing a gentle, steady hand on his arm. She looked down at her uncle with absolute, clinical detachment. "We have the cure for whatever they bring."
Viktor and a dozen Vale enforcers burst through the heavy oak doors just then, securing the perimeter and arresting the remaining mercenaries who had crept into the shadows.
"Boss!" Viktor yelled, taking in the scene. "Area is secure. The police are twenty minutes out, but we've cleared the escape routes."
"Clean this up," Dominic ordered, handing little Noah carefully into Viktor’s trembling, reverent arms. "Take the boy back to the estate. Put him in the high-security nursery. Double the guard."
"Yes, boss," Viktor nodded, cradling the baby like fragile glass before rushing back out toward the convoy.
May you like
Dominic turned back to Arthur, who was being hauled to his feet by two enforcers.
"Take him to the basement of Warehouse One," Dominic said coldly. "We have questions to ask about my brother's car."
